Old Dominion wide receivers shelve egos for collective good

NORFOLK — — When Reid Evans and his fellow wide receivers at Old Dominion break from group huddles in practices and meetings, it's always with a brief chant: "C-B-S."

It's not out of respect for network anchor Scott Pelley or because they're big fans of "Mike and Molly." It's short for "Can't Be Stopped" — the collective mindset of the Monarchs' platoon of pass catchers.

"If we do what the coaches say, we don't think we can be stopped," said Evans, the redshirt junior from Phoebus.

The Monarchs' no-huddle, spread offense, which usually employs four wide receiver sets, is well equipped to go 60 minutes at coach Bobby Wilder's preferred tempo.

"We feel like we have 10 guys who can run routes and catch the ball," Wilder said. "Philosophically, we try to roll those guys through and keep everybody as fresh as we can. There are specific situations where we'll call on a certain receiver for a certain route, but for the most part all those guys are going to play."

ODU (5-1, 2-1 CAA) is second in the conference in scoring (37.0 ppg), third in total offense and fourth in passing heading into Saturday's meeting against Towson (4-1, 2-0 CAA) at Foreman Field (3:30 p.m.).

The Monarchs average 235 passing yards per game and lead the conference in completions (136) and total plays (458). Yet Evans is the only receiver among the top 10 in catches (he is ninth), and no Monarch is among the top 10 in receiving yards per game — functions of both depth and scheme.

ODU's spread emphasizes shorter routes and getting the ball to its many playmakers in space. No fewer than seven and as many as 10 players have caught passes in games this season — receivers, tight ends and backs.

Evans has had as many as eight catches in a game, versus Delaware, and as few as two. Redshirt freshman Larry Pinkard has just five catches the past two games, but four went for touchdowns.

"You never know when the play is going to come," said assistant coach Keita Malloy, whose task is preparing and rotating receivers.

"I'm probably the most fortunate coach on the staff to have the depth that I have," he said.

Malloy's other task is balancing and checking egos. In fact, he used the word most often associated with receivers before a visitor could finish the thought — diva.

"I played the position, I know," said Malloy, a receiver at Delaware in the early 1990s who also played in the Arena League. "I want them to have an ego. I want them to want to have the ball in their hands. I tell them all the time that I want them to be selfish, but to be good teammates."

Malloy's primary messages to his group: It's not all about you; and, you will get opportunities. The opportunities, however, are based on multiple conditions.

"The guys who do what I ask them to do will play," Malloy said. "That's on the field, in the classroom, in the community. We have guys who have talent, but as we've seen, it's not always the guys with the most talent who are the most effective. I'm not just trying to develop good football players, I'm developing young men."

Malloy does not hesitate to sit players who are deficient in certain areas, or to insert seldom-used players at critical times. Though the Monarchs might use a receiver having a good day more frequently, it's rare for a wideout to be on the field more than three or four consecutive plays. It's all about keeping everyone engaged and prepared.

"We all have egos, but Coach Malloy knocked them down from day one," receiver Nick Mayers said. "If we didn't have the depth at receiver that we do, we wouldn't work as hard."

Blocking is also one of Malloy's points of emphasis, for fellow receivers downfield and in the running game.

"It doesn't matter how many balls we catch," Evans said. "If we're not blocking, you would think we lost."

ODU's receivers still check their stats. Individual numbers still hold some sway, but they aren't the most important numbers.

"I just want to win," Evans said.

"If we were losing, it might be a little different," Mayers said. "Guys might be more about themselves. But we're winning. What we're doing is working."

The Monarchs will continue to stockpile receivers and spread the wealth. Though the system is unlikely to produce a 70- or 80-catch guy, there are big-picture benefits.

"If we're patient and take what the defense gives us and keep the chains moving, the opportunities will come," Malloy said. "When you create enough chances, it'll explode at some point. You don't know when, but at some point, it'll explode."